Syrian Civil Defense battles wildfires in Latakia

(6 Jul 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Latakia, Syria - 05 July 2025
1. Various of wildfires, firefighters, smoke
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmad Yaziji, Syrian Civil Defense officer:
"Since the early morning, the fires had been almost completely extinguished. However, unfortunately, as the morning progressed, the wind speed caused the fires to spread and expand, leading to the ignition of vegetation cover. Sadly, the fires also reached civilians’ homes and agricultural lands.”
3. Various of wildfires, firefighters, smoke
STORYLINE:
Syrian Civil Defense teams continued efforts on Saturday to contain wildfires that are sweeping through the Turkmen Mountains and other parts of Latakia’s countryside.

Turkish firefighters worked with Syrian colleagues on Saturday to battle wildfires in Syria’s Latakia region, while also tackling a blaze on the Turkish side of the border.

A Syrian Civil Defense officer expressed concerns that the presence of unexploded ordnance from the country’s past conflicts might be contributing to the spread of wildfires in some areas.

“The wind speed caused the fires to spread and expand, leading to the ignition of vegetation cover. Sadly, the fires also reached civilians’ homes and agricultural lands,” said Ahmad Yaziji, a Syrian civil Defense officer.

The Syrian Civil Defense is a team of first responders operating in Syria - funded by western governments.

Raed Al Saleh, the Syrian minister of emergency and disaster management, said two firefighting helicopters, as well as fire trucks and water support vehicles, had arrived from Turkey to help beat back flames in Syria’s northwest border region.

“Although the intervention was scheduled for yesterday evening, sudden wildfires in Turkey led to a delay in the arrival of the participating teams until this morning,” he posted on X.

The minister added that the joint effort was “to ensure readiness, exchange field information, and enhance rapid response to protect our people in the mountainous border areas.”

Fires that have hit Turkey, Greece and Syria over the past week have been fuelled by soaring temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity.

In Turkey they led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and damaged some 200 homes.

Summer fires are common in the eastern Mediterranean region, where experts warn that climate change is intensifying fire risk conditions.

AP video shot by: Ghaith Alsayyed

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